My First Force Carbonation

[Nil]

Hello guys,

I got a 5 gal soda keg and a 5 lbs CO2 tank (full).

I forced carbonate my very first batch of beer and these are my notes:

1- Instructions from an experienced brewer was to force carbonate @30 psi twice per day. I shoulda get a fully carbonated beer in 4 days.

2-My experience was that, after blanketing (t =0) and after approx 1 hours, all CO2 inside the keg was gone. If I re-purge, the same amount of gas was required. I left the keg on my basement @ approx T = 50F.

3-After 3 days, there was not carbonation. I decided to force carbonate @30psi for 2 days; results, to much carbonation.

4-There was a funky flavor in the beer, being stronger when I tasted the foam.

I guess that, I did not took in account that the CO2 tank was sitting in a garage for 3 years. Is this is too much time?

Do you think that I should purge the tank, clean and refill with new CO2?

Thanks!, Nil

 

[Purdue22]

Shouldn't you be leaving pressure on the keg at all times instead of disconnecting or shutting off the CO2 tank?

 

[BigFloyd]

1) Leave the gas connected to the keg and turned on while carbonating.

2) Setting it at 10-12psi and leaving it alone at 38-40*F for 10-14 days will get you a nice consistent carb.

3) If you must rush it, chill to 38*F, 30 psi for 24-30 hours, vent off the excess pressure once, set the reg to 10-12psi.

4) If you have beer line shorter than 10ft, get some new 12ft 3/16" line. You'll be glad you did.

5) For the current over-carbed batch, disconnect from gas, vent it several times over the next few days, re-connect at 10-12psi and see how it pours.

 

[Nil]

Thanks guys. Any thoughts about the funky taste of the beer? Is this may be due to the old CO2?

 

[theck]

I never force rather just connect it to my system and wait a week or more. Turns out great every time.

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[day_trippr]

Thanks guys. Any thoughts about the funky taste of the beer? Is this may be due to the old CO2?

"Funky" could cover such a wide swath of characters it tells us nothing about what you're tasting...

Cheers!

 

[kombat]

I never force rather just connect it to my system and wait a week or more.

That's force carbing.

What you meant to say was that you don't BURST carb.

 

[theck]

That's force carbing.

What you meant to say was that you don't BURST carb.

Sorry ya... quick carb, burst. Easiest way, hard to wait that long sometimes

 

[BigFloyd]

Thanks guys. Any thoughts about the funky taste of the beer? Is this may be due to the old CO2?

"Funky taste" is much more likely the result of pitch/ferment temps that were too warm.

 

[purplehaze]

CO2 does not go bad I used a tank that was sitting out in the elements for years with good results. The off taste is not the CO2 but aging the beer can sometimes help with off flavors.

I always burst carb my kegs with good results, I just don't have the patience.

-Chill beer.
-CO2 pressure to 30 psi connected to the liquid out post.
-Rock the keg for 1 1/2 minutes.
-Disconnect CO2 and purge most of the CO2 from the keg.
-CO2 pressure to 30 psi connected to the liquid out post.
-Rock keg for 1 minute.
-Done.

 

[theck]

CO2 does not go bad I used a tank that was sitting out in the elements for years with good results. The off taste is not the CO2 but aging the beer can sometimes help with off flavors.

Picked up some guys system with full tank ($10) and the last tank date was 84... went into the local gas place and asked them if it was ok to use, he said it was and I ended up using it all.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

This "funky" that you speak of.........Does it have a "bite" to it?

 

[mattd2]

The fubnky could also be green beer that you are not used to since with bottle conditioning you have to let it condition a while for it to carb up.

i would expect your freind's advice was a balance between, carbing quick and not over carbing. Did he mean that you should do all the normal stuff - rack/purge/etc. then pressurise the keg to 30 PSI and disconnect the CO2. then 1/2 day later the pressure should have dropped as the beer absorbs CO2 so bump it back up to 30 PSI and discconect the CO2, do this 2 more times and the beer should be carb'd? That might work but seems more of a hassle than the normal approaches to carbing.

 

[Nil]

Thanks, guys. I cannot define the funky taste. Is not rubbery, just unusual for a 50/50 white wheat and two-row pale ale. I will bottle the beer and keep working with another batch to learn the process.

Thanks!! Nil

 

[Nil]

Thanks, guys. I cannot define the funky taste. Is not rubbery, just unusual for a 50/50 white wheat and two-row pale ale. I will bottle the beer and keep working with another batch to learn the process.

Thanks!! Nil

 

[day_trippr]

Maybe you can find your off-note on the wheel...

Cheers!

 

[Nil]

I nailed down the flavor source: old hoses. I realized when I cleaned and smelled the lines and found that it is the same as the beer wired flavor. In fact, I bottled the beer and have a couple the next day and the wired flavor vanished.

Thanks for all support! Nil